Quick Takes: Quick hits on local, state and national news

News Item: When business owners in Freeland raised concerns over the planned closure of Freeland Road for bridge work, Tittabawassee Township Manager Brian Kischnick took an alternate proposal to the Saginaw County Road Commission. “There were concerns for business on this side of the river,” Kischnick told Tittabawassee Township board members Tuesday. “We proposed keeping the eastbound lane open.” Brian Wendling, managing director for the Road Commission, took the proposal to Rowe Engineering and it was approved.

Our Take: Half a bridge is better than none. Kudos to Freeland and Road Commission officials and to engineers for working out this compromise that will at least keep bringing customers to town. They’ll have to find another way home, though.

On-road, off-road vehicles

News Item: Tuscola County Undersheriff Glen Skrent is reminding off-road vehicle riders not to ride on county roads. “We have been getting calls from citizens stating they heard you can drive an ORV on the road,” Skrent said. “The law has not been changed on that and you still can’t drive a quad, dirtbike, etc. on a public road in Tuscola County.” Some farm exemptions apply, he said.

Our Take: You can’t legally ride an ORV along Tuscola County roads, but you can in northern Michigan counties. In 2008, a new law lets counties north of a line from Arenac County to Mason County, plus Bay County, to allow ORVs to urn along public roads, below 25 mph. Check local ordinances, and be careful out there, ORV riders.

Zap those cyber attackers

News Item: The head of the National Security Agency says the U.S. must fire back against cyber attacks swiftly and strongly and should act to counter or disable a threat even when the identity of the attacker is unknown.

Our Take: Oh, how we have yearned for such power against hackers and others who invade business and home computers with their viruses, bots and bugs. The NSA, of course, is talking about dealing with a far greater threat — cyber attacks our infrastructure, military and government. Zap ’em, but good!

Superintendent is shared

News Item: Two Michigan school districts have voted to share one superintendent. Morenci’s board voted 7-0 to approve a plan to share Hudson Superintendent Mike Osborne. Hudson’s board voted 6-1. Under the plan, a special council comprising three members from each school board will communicate with both districts and serve as a liaison to address potential conflicts of interest. Morenci may save about $30,000 in the coming year, while Hudson will save about $80,000.

Our Take: OK, so the savings through this shared service aren’t huge. But they are significant for these small districts. May their experiment is sharing show the way that other school districts in Michigan may find ways of shaving their budgets through sharing, or even consolidation.